Help us restore the historic heart of Scott’s gardens

Can you help us raise £100,000 to restore Sir Walter Scott’s Pavilion & Furnace House to its former glory?

To mark Sir Walter Scott’s 250th anniversary in 2021, we want to restore Scott’s Pavilion & Furnace House and bring a fresh lease of life to one of Abbotsford’s most historically significant buildings.  We have launched the Pavilion Restoration Appeal to raise £100,000 towards the costs and the first step is a Prize Draw, which we hope you will support.

At the heart of Sir Walter Scott’s walled garden lies the Pavilion and Furnace House. Designed by Sir Walter Scott c1824, the Pavilion is one of very few examples of its type to remain. In Scott’s day, the Pavilion was both a heated outdoor room to grow rare and exotic plants and a retreat in which to enjoy the garden in a pleasant environment. A boiler in the Furnace House sent warm air through channels and ducts to create the right heat levels to protect tender plants growing in the Pavilion and against the wall.

To restore the buildings, we need to re-build the roof, install guttering, repair the glazing and stonework, and improve access. Once restored, the Pavilion will offer a place for creativity, mindfulness, shelter from the elements, and a space to rest and reflect. It will also provide growing space for plants too tender to be cultivated outside, such as oleanders, lily of the valley, hibiscus, peaches, figs and vines. Read more about the history of the Pavilion and Furnace House and the work we need to do. 

Details of the Prize Draw:

The Friends of Abbotsford Committee are running a licenced Prize Draw to raise money towards the Pavilion Restoration Appeal. Tickets are only £1 each and can be purchased at the Visitor Centre or you can buy online.  A very special guest will draw the winning tickets on Saturday 4^th December 2021 at Abbotsford. Winners will be contacted by Abbotsford the following week. 

Terms and conditions apply. 

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, there is a fabulous selection of prizes on offer!

1^st        4.5 Litre Bottle of Whisky - “The Famous Walter Scott”

2^nd        Overnight stay and dinner for 2 at the Caledonian Club, London

3^rd        Chairman’s Tour of Abbotsford followed by High-Tea

4^th        Friends of Abbotsford - Life Membership

5^th        4 bottles of blended whisky, including 1 special release

6^th        Women’s Cashmere Jumper

7^th        Restaurant voucher for The Main Course or Bonnie Badger

 8^th       Restaurant voucher for Provender

9^th        Hamper of gifts

10^th      Bottle of Pegasus Gin

11^th      Limited Edition Framed Print of Abbotsford by Catherine Rayner

 12^th     Watercolour painting of Abbotsford

 13^th     Voucher for Woodside Plant Centre

 14^th     National Garden Gift Voucher

15^th      Friends of Abbotsford - I year membership

Buy tickets now

How to make a donation towards the Pavilion appeal:

Online: http://easydonate.org/SCOTT255

By text* (SMS): To donate £5, text SCOTT255 to 70970, To donate £10, text SCOTT255 to 70191

By Cheque: Please make cheques payable to The Abbotsford Trust and post to: Abbotsford, Melrose, Roxburghshire TD6 9BQ

By cash or card: You can make a donation by cash, card or cheque at the Visitor Centre

By Bank Transfer: Please contact Tania Murray tania.murray@scottsabbotsford.co.uk for details

Gift Aid: If you are a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid can increase the value of your donation to the Abbotsford Trust at no extra cost to you and may also be tax efficient for you if you are a higher rate taxpayer. We can send you a Gift Aid declaration form if we do not already have one for you – please e-mail friends@scottsabbotsford.co.uk. For more information about the Gift Aid scheme itself, please see www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity/gift-aid